Internal-combustion engine



' July 9, 1929. CARLSON 1.720.206

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 18, 19 .2 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fzyl July 9, 1929. c so 1.720.206

INTERNAL COMBUST ION ENGINE Filed April 18. 192.2 2 $heets-Sheet 2 Patented July 9, 1929.

1,720,206 PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH G. CARLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed April 18, 1922.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines and has for its object to provide a new and improved engine of this description, wherein the valves which control the admission of the explosive mixture to the cylinders and the exhaust of the burnt gases therefrom, are rotary valves, there being a separate valve for each cylinder, the valve being arranged so as to be substantially balanced in all their various positions and to be self adjusting for wear. The invention has other objects which are more specifically pointed out in the description following. Referring now to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a multiple cylinder engine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the valves and the upper end of its associated cylinder;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showingone form of valve;

Fig. 4c is a plan view of the valve illustrated in Fig. 4.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Referring now to the drawin s I have illustrated one form of internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders 1, 2, 3 and 4 but any number of cylinders may be used. Associ ited with each cylinder, preferably at the top thereof, is a valve casing 5 which contains the valve ports, and the admission and exhaust ports are controlled by such valve. In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2 this casing contains a cone or fun nel shaped piece 6 which acts as a valve seat and which is preferably arranged so that the cooling fluid may circulate therethrougb. In the construction shown this funnel shaped piece is hollow as shown at and is provided with a hollow stem 7 hav ng a passageway 7 which communicates with a passageway 8 in the part 8, connected with the valve casing, and the hollow stems of all the valves may communicate with this same passageway, there being a general outlet 9 for all of them. There is also a communlcation 10 between this hollow piece and the fluid spaces 11 of the valve casing. These latter fluid spaces are connected by a connection 12 with the spaces 13 of the cylinders through which the cooling fluid passes. The parts are arranged so as to form a general circulating system of which the part 6 forms a part. The rotary valve 1a is a cone Serial No. 555,078.

or funnel shaped valve which fits on the exterior of the seat 6 and is provided with a port 15 which is adapted to successively register with the admission port 16 and the exhaust port 17 in the valve casing 5. I provide some suitable means for properly ro tating the valve 14.. In the construction shown there is a rotary part or sleeve 18 which surrounds a part of the stem 7 and which is rotated in any desired manner, as by means of a gear 19 which is connected to the shaft 21, said shaft being provided with a driving pulley 22 driven from the engine shaft- 23 by the driving device 24. The sleeve 18 is operatively connected with the valve 14 in any desired manner. As illustrated the valve 14 is provided with teeth 25 which engage similar teeth 26 on the sleeve 18. The parts are preferably arranged so that the valve may have the desired amount of up and down motion without interfering with its being driven. The inner and outer faces of the valve 14 are preferably parallel. Surrounding this valve is a holding piece 27 which is held against rotation in any desired manner as by means of the key 28, and which is free to move up and down. This piece is preferably provided with the packing 29. The valve casing 5 is provided with a space for the hold ing piece 27, the outer surface of said holding piece being cylindrical preferably being vertical when in position. A spring 30 engages the holding piece 27 and tends normally to hold it against the valve. The other end of the spring engages a fixed part 31. It will be seeen that this construction per mits the valve 14 to have a certain amount of vertical movement, as for example when there is an excessive pressure or strain upon it, and this spring or holding piece immediately returns it to its position against the valve piece 6.

In the drawings I have shown one means of oiling the valve. In this construction the valve casing is provided with an oil chamber 32 in which work the gears 19 and 20. The rotating sleeve 18 is preferably provided at the top with an oiling space 33 into which oil is received, such oil passing down between it and the stem 7 along space 33 to the valve. I may also provide oil spaces 34 and there are openings 35 leading to the outer face of the rotating member 26. I also provide an oil opening 36 beneath the gear 19 through which oil may pass from the oil chamber to the exterior of i he rotating valve l t. 1 may provioe oil spaces 36 for this purpose.

In the operation of the device the rotary valves are properly timed so that the port will come opposite the ports 16 and 1? at proper intervals. lVhen the port 15 comes opposite the port 16 the explosive mixture coming from the carburetor enters the inlet 37 and passes into the cylinder after the valve is moved to close the port 16. This explosive mixture is exploded and when the port 15 reaches the port 17 the burnt gases are exhausted through. the exhaust 38 which connects with the exhaust pipe 39. Any wear on the valve is automatically taken up as the holding piece 27 moves down. It will thus be seen that the valve is kept from be coming excessively heated by the cooling fluid inside the valve seat. There is also fluid surrounding the valve on the outside of the valve seat which circulates through the passageway in the valve casin It will thus be seen that there is here provided a substantially balanced valve which automatically adjusts itself to" wear and which is properly cooled and self oiling. The valve and associated parts may be made of any suitable material. It will further be noted that the valve itself is separate from the ro tating sleeve 18 so that it may move with relation thereto without disturbing the driving connection. It will further be seen that the holding piece 27 and the spring 30 resist any longitudinal movement of the valve.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying the invention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the claims hereto appended, and I therefore do not limitmyself to the particular construction shown.

I claim:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a valve casing connected with said cylinder, a valve seat in said valve casing provided with inlet and exhaust ports and having a funnel shaped exterior surface, said valve seat having a hollow stem, a funnel shaped rotary valve surrounding said seat and having a single port, and a driving connection surrounding said hollow stein for driving said valve, said valve longitudinally movable with relation to said driving connection while the engine is in operation.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a valve casing connected with said cylinder, a valve seat in said valve casing provided with inlet and exhaust ports and having a funnel shaped exterior su face, a funnel shaped rotary valve surrounding said seat, a rotating sleeve operatively connected with said valve, a pinion connected with said sleeve, a gear for rotating said pinion, and means for driving said gear from the shaft to the engine, sleeve and valve being free to move longitudinally with relation to each other while the valve is being driven by the sleeve.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, valve casing connected witl said cylinder, a valve seat in said valve casing provided with inlet and exhaust ports and having a. funnel shaped exterior surface, a tunnel shaped rotary valve surrounding said seat, and a driving connection for driving said valve, a longitudinal movable funnel shaped holding piece surrounding said valve, and means for elastically pressing said holding piece against the outer face of the valve.

4;. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a valve casing connected with said cylinder, a valve seat in said valve casing provided with inlet and exhaustports and having a tunnel shaped exterior surface, said valve seat being provided with an in terior space for a cooling fluid, means for connecting said space with the cooling system of the engine, a funnel shaped rotary valve surrounding said seat, and a driving connection for driving said valve, said valve free to move away fromand toward its seat while being rotated by said driving connection.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder, a valve casing connected with said cylinder, a valve seat in said valve casing separate from said cylinder and provided with inlet and exhaust ports and having a funnel shaped exterior surface, said valve seat provided with an interior space for cooling fluid, communicating with the circulating system of the engine, a hollow stein connected with said valve seat and having a central passageway communicating with said space, a passageway in said valve c2 sing with which the said central passageway and stem communicate, a connection between the passageway and the casing and the cooling system of the engine.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising a funnel shaped rotary valve having substantially parallel interior and exterior surfaces, said valve provided with a single port, a valve seat provided with an inlet and exhaust ports, said valve seat hav ing an exterior surface which fits the inte rior surface of the tunnel shaped valve, a stem for said valve, two separated relativelv movable parts, one enga ing the valve and the other the valve stem, a spring normallv tending to separate said parts, and means for rotating said valve so as to cause the port therein to successively register with said inlet and exhaust ports.

7. An nternal combustion engine comprising a tunnel shaped rotary valve having substantially parallel interior and exterior surfaces, said valve provided with a single port, a valve seat provided with an inlet and exhaust ports, said valve seat having an exterior surface which fits the interior surface of the funnel shaped valve, means for rotating said valve so as to cause the port therein to successively register with said inlet and exhaust port-s a holding piece having a funnel shaped interior face which engages the outer face of said rotary valve, said holding piece held against rotary movement and free to 'move longitudinally and a spring engaging said holding piece and normally holding it and the valve in a position where the valve engages the seat.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature this 7th day of April, 1922.

ADOLPH G. CARLSON. 

